Yemen gunbattles erupt after Saleh refuses exit

Yemen gunbattles erupt after Saleh refuses exit

news.yahoo.com

SANAA, Yemen – Security forces and opposition tribal fighters battled with automatic weapons, mortars and tanks in the Yemeni capital on Monday, blasting buildings and setting government offices on fire in an eruption of violence after President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign an agreement calling on him to step down.

Tanks were seen pulling into the neighborhood and the sound of tank fire was heard. Hashid fighters outside Sanaa were rushing into the capital to reinforce their comrades,

(visit the link for the full news article)


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Looks like these battles just broke out a bit over an hour ago (according to the article)

The president of Yemen has refused to sign the deal put infront of him on Sunday, and look what happened. These battles are the first "major" ones, according to the article.

These battles could become very bloody. The tribes have somewhat good firepower, but the military defectors brought along tanks and heavier weapons with them. The pro-government forces have problably the same firepower, if not more, than what their defectors have.

news.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Sounds like the US is trying to overthrow every single government in the Middle East.

All this sudden opposition to traditional leaders didn't just spring up over night by sheer coincidence, fully armed and organized and everything.

Forgot to add a few recent related threads.

US, UK and European envoys trapped in Yemen siege

Add Yemen to the list!

Plus heres the only video I picked up so far after doing a quick search on youtube.

The funny part about this is for the last 2 years the USA has been supplying Yemen with the very same weapons there using now on there own people. Weapons that were supposed to be used to fight AQ are used to prop up a dictator instead.

Originally posted by lokdog
Weapons that were supposed to be used to fight AQ are used to prop up a dictator instead.

"Al Qaeda" is a cure-all of a farce. The US has been pumping guns and money through the region all along knowing within the upper ranks that it was a priority to go to war or otherwise topple all of these governments. Even General Wesley Clark says that Bush wanted Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Lebanon and other nations all invaded during his first year in office, and that they were looking for reasons to justify war even back then. It's all politics as usual. The US is just taking its turn playing the role Nazi Germany played last time.

Originally posted by bsbray11
Sounds like the US is trying to overthrow every single government in the Middle East.

All this sudden opposition to traditional leaders didn't just spring up over night by sheer coincidence, fully armed and organized and everything.

Why do you say so? You can't possibly blame the US for everything. Yes, they might strategically benefit from unrest in Syria and Libya, but by no means they like that their puppet in Egypt has fallen. Yemen is from a strategic point of view of no interest. The US was caught by surprise in Egypt, the Yemen revolution is a domino effect and the CIA has probably contributed to the Libya and Syria revolutions.

Huge blasts heard near opposition leader's house in Yemen's capital

SANAA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- A series of huge explosions were heard around opposition leader Sadiq al-Ahmar's house nearby the Yemeni Interior Ministry and there was heavy fire following the explosions, witnesses and security official told Xinhua.

An official of Ministry of Industry and Trade said that the militants were strafing their building, whose windows were all smashed, while all the guards of the ministry were killed.

"It is a civil war, and huge casualties are expected," an official of the Interior ministry said.

reply to post by buni11687


Just another day in paradise. You know the Middle East. A lot of these countries have more guns than people. It is part of their culture so don't be surprised they are armed to the teeth. Every celebration they have they are shooting guns in the air. I asked my Iraqi husband weren't they afraid stray bullets would kill somebody he just laughed and said they know what they are doing. As far as Yemen goes the majority of the people are drugged up since their main crop isn't a food crop. The entire country is about to run out of fresh water. Instead of being concerned about food and water. They were protesting in the streets due an attempt to change the forced marriage laws of 8 yr old girls to 17. Why the US has any presence in that land of nothing is the question?

Yemen on the brink of civil war

Local press reported the anti-government tribesmen seized the Ministry of Trade and Industry and were moving toward the Ministry of Interior.

"They are shooting at the Ministry of Interior and clearing people out of their homes and taking cover in those houses," said one eyewitness.

"The Yemenia Airways building near the ministry has been burned to the ground," he added.

Heres another news article that just came out with a little more information.

Yemen on the brink of civil war

As fighting raged on throughout the day, anti-government tribesmen surrounded the state news agency, known as Saba, and were attempting to take it.
"Seven people have been killed so far. We're totally surrounded," one employee said.

Local press reported the anti-government tribesmen seized the Ministry of Trade and Industry and were moving toward the Ministry of Interior.

"The Yemenia Airways building near the ministry has been burned to the ground," he added.

Looks like the opposition has been moving fast today. They've overran the Ministry of Trade, burned down the Yemenia Airways building, currently fighting to take the State News Agency, and are moving towards the Ministry of Interior.

Al-Arabiya news agency reported members of the Hashid tribe, the tribe of the Al-Ahmar family, were moving south from the stronghold in Ammran towards the capital.

And now one of Yemens most influential and powerful tribes are moving into the capital.

At the moment, the opposition hasnt brought in their armoured brigades yet.

Defected general Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar (no relation to the Al-Ahmar family) has yet to bring his rebel First Armoured Brigade into the fight.

After his defection, the general said his troops would only be used to protect the Change Square protest camp in Sanaa.

Edit -

reply to post by makeitso


Looks like you got to the article first!

Heres a video of some recent protests uploaded an hour ago by the same user of the other video in the thread . I dont know what theyre saying, its in arabic I believe.

reply to post by bsbray11

Sounds like the US is trying to overthrow every single government in the Middle East.

I think it sounds like the two sides of Yemen are fighting, this doesnt have to be U.S. involvement (not ruling it out though)

You do realize Yemen used to be two countries right? They still have differences

reply to post by redrose123

Just another day in paradise. You know the Middle East. A lot of these countries have more guns than people. It is part of their culture so don't be surprised they are armed to the teeth. Every celebration they have they are shooting guns in the air.

Just so you know, the greatesd concentration of guns in the world is in the southern U.S.

Heres a little update

english.eastday.com...

SANAA, May 23-- At least 14 government soldiers were killed and 38 others, including two civilians, were injured in clashes on Monday between government forces and tribesmen in Yemen 's capital, an official of the interior ministry told Xinhua.

The official said the death toll of the armed tribesmen was still unknown.

Looks like the opposition managed to capture a few buildings last night.

The armed tribesmen, who are from the most powerful tribe in Yemen, took control of the ministry of industry and trade and the official Saba news agency after fierce clashes with local guards and government forces on Monday afternoon.

An official of the ministry of industry and trade said that the militants fired at their building and killed all the guards.

Sadiq al-Ahmar's neighbour told Xinhua that about 72 people from tribesmen and government soldiers were killed and tens of others injured on Monday.

Heres another update for today (if anyones still reading this).

Sporadic Yemen clashes resume in capital after lull

SANAA (Reuters) - Yemeni loyalist forces exchanged sporadic fire on Tuesday with guards of a prominent tribal leader who has sided with protesters demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh's ouster, witnesses said in Sanaa.

"Gunmen and soldiers spread out everywhere and the sound of gunfire can be heard from time to time," one of the witnesses told Reuters, following a nighttime lull in clashes that killed seven people on Monday.

More battles have sprung up in the capital city.

reply to post by buni11687


yes, keep the updates coming, people are reading

Here is one: fighting intensifies in Yemens capital

Shells fired by government forces exploded near the Ahmar compound, which is near several key government ministries and the ruling party’s headquarters. At the Interior Ministry, less than a mile away, tribal fighters fired heavy artillery of their own. At least five tribesmen were killed in the fighting on Tuesday, said the person present at Mr. Ahmar’s house; news agencies said 12 people had died since Monday.

Opposition tribesmen appeared to expand the area of fighting on Tuesday, taking control of at least one of the nearby ministries, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in a battle with security forces on Tuesday. Their numbers also appeared to be swelling: an employee of the Ahmar family, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media, said that more tribesmen from just north of the capital had traveled to Sana overnight to show their support for the Ahmar family. Nearly 1,000 tribal fighters were involved in the battle with security forces on Tuesday.

May I suggest you have the mods move this to the WWIII forum? more appropriate there I think. Just use the "alert" button

Heres a few more updates from today.

Yemen officials: 38 killed in capital fighting

SANAA, Yemen – Yemeni security and medical officials said Tuesday 38 people have been killed in a day of fighting between powerful anti-regime tribes and President Ali Abdullah Saleh's forces.

A security official said 14 soldiers were killed in the fighting and 20 others were missing. A hospital official said 24 tribesmen were killed. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Fighters from Yemen's most powerful tribes and soldiers exchanged fire in the capital Tuesday, using artillery shells, mortars in pitched street battles. This was a sharp escalation in the uprising that is threatening to become a militia-led revolt after diplomatic efforts failed to get Saleh to step down.

Heres a few videos





reply to post by Skerrako


Yes, I do think this should be moved to WW3 as well. The orginial story in the OP is a bit old now and the WW3 forum looks most suitable at the moment.

Update for Wednesday

Yemen tribesmen overrun state news agency

SANAA (AFP) – Tribesmen loyal to a powerful opposition chief have taken control of state news agency Saba in Sanaa, a high-ranking official and witnesses said on Wednesday, as fighting in the Yemeni capital resumed.

The tribesmen also hold the national airline Yemenia and have tried to occupy the interior ministry headquarters, according to witnesses and the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Yemen president says everythings fine, no civil war at the moment.

SANAA (Reuters) - President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Wednesday Yemen would not become a failed state or be dragged into civil war despite fierce clashes in the capital with tribal gunmen seeking his ouster.

Fighting rages on in Yemen capital, 3 soldiers die

SANAA, Yemen (AP) - A Yemeni military official says three more soldiers have died as fighting continued for the third straight day in the country's capital Sanaa between regime loyalists and powerful opposition tribes.

The military official says three soldiers died early on Wednesday, raising the death toll to at least 48 since fighting broke out on Monday between tribesmen loyal to Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar of Yemen's powerful Hashid tribe and government troops in the capital's Hassaba district.

More people killed, and more government building overrun by the opposition. Things seem to be just getting worse and worse for Saleh

reply to post by buni11687


Thanks for the updates. always keep them coming because you never know if people without accounts are reading too.

It looks like civil war has returned to Yemen. Possibly leading to a splint in the country again? The difference in Yemen as opposed to Libya or Syria is that the tribal leaders have more than enough firepower to take on and possibly overthrow the government. But if that happens, there is likely to be an alqaeda- sympathetic leader. Yemen is Al Qaedas most recent home